Mechanism for automatically operating levers.



T. A. MGGALL. MECHANISM FQR AUTOMATIGALLY OPERATING LEVERS.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1911. 1,024,092. Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Att r' neys.

T. AwMG GALL.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING LEVEBS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 22; 1911.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

5 SHEETSFSHEET 2.

%A: 3 L; v 21 T. A. MGCALL.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING LEVERS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JULY 22, 1911.

1,024,092. Pat nted Apr. 23, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3' T. A. McOALL. MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING LEVERS.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

APPLIOATION FILED'JULY 22, 1911.

T. A. McGALL. MECHANISM FOR. AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING LBVBRS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 22,1911. I v I 1,024,092. Iatented Apr. 23, 1912.

5 slinms snmr 5.

- UNITED STATES PATENT canton.

THOMAS A. MOCALL, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIGAIIIIJ'Y OPERATING LEVERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed July 22, 1911. Serial No. 639,997.

either of two perforated controller strips.

The invention in the form shown is designed with special reference for its use for automatically operating the key levers and other parts of a typewriting machine; and it is shown in Figure 1 associated with a base of such a typewriting machine and connected with the levers thereof. There are,

however, numerous other mechanisms, such as the keys of musical instruments, which could quite as well be operated by the means which constitute this invention.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts shown in the drawing, and hereinafter .described and definitely pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an end view of a machine embodying this invention. This view shows very few of the new'parts, but itdoes show in what relative position a typewriting machine should be placed in or-. der that the slides G of this inventionv may be connected with and operate the key isvers and other parts of a typewriting machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view which shows some ofthe sets of-mechanisms whlch em-' body the invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional side view showing one set of such mechanisms and a part of its duplicate set, in

what may be regarded as their normal positions. Fig. 4 is 'a similar view showing the position of the parts when in readiness to draw down a slide G. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the arts after slide Gr has been drawn down an the parts are about to return to their normal position.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents a rotatable cylinder; and B represeats a perforated controller strip which runs over this cylinder and is drawn alon as the cylinder rotates. Associated witi this cylinder are a plurality of levers D arranged in parallel relation, one of such levers being provided for each key lever or other part of a typewriting machine, or

other mechanism which is to be operated. 'Each lever has two tail pieces (Z, d. The

latter is for engagement with the depressor bar K, and the former extends into a stirrup 9 formed by turning up the lower end of a vertically movable slide Gr. Each slide G is under the influence of a spring 9 tend- -ing to move it upward,'and each slide is connected by means of a link C with a typewriter key lever S or some other mechanism which it is desired to operate.

The levers D are all pivoted upon a trans Versely extended rod I which passes through a longitudinal slot (Z in each lever. At-

Whatmay be regarded as the front end of each lever is a vertical hole, in which is a freely movable vertical pin H having shoulders h, it, both above and belowv the lever to limit its movement. The lower end of each pin normally rests upon the unperforated part of the controller strip B; but when a perforation in such strip comes beneath one of these pins the pin will drop through the perforation. A large number of longitudinally extended grooves a are formed in the surface of this cylinder. When a pin H drops through a perforation in the cont-roller strip it enters one of these grooves. The cylinder is constantly turning in the direc tion indicated by the arrow on Fig. 1,wl 1erefore the lever whose pin is in one of these slo'ts will be moved endwise toward the middle of the machine, thereby carrying the tail piece at on said lever in such position that it will be struck by a reciprocating de presser bar K when the latter is moving downward. Each of the levers D has a downwardly widened portion d behind its pivot which normally'rests upon afixed supporting bar J. vWhen a lever D is moved rearward this thickened portion is moved off of the supporting bar, wherefore the rear end of the lever may be rocked downward.

The depressor bar K isfixed to the lower ends of two bell crank levers is, which are respectively pivoted to two vertically movable slides N mounted in suitable guideways on the side frame members of the machine.

The upper horizontal arm of each of these belllcranks is pivotally connected with a lint L, the lower ends of which links are pivotally connected with two nearly horizontal arms m fixed to a, rock shaft M. The

, vertical arms of the two bell crank levers lie between'two pins 7, n, 'by' whichthe rocking movement of said bell crank levers is limited; 7 I

The rock shaft M is constantly ,roclring while the machine is in operation and may. be rocked by themeans shown',n'am'ely, two eccentrics t fixed to a rotating shaft T, and each having an eccentric strap 25 to which.

an arm ml is pivotally connected, said arms m being fixed to the rock shaft M. When,

I by the rocking of the rockshaft M, the links L pull downward on the two levers lafthey are rocked'until they engage'Withthe-pins it after which the slide N- is moved downi 7 ward. Thetail pieces 65 of the levers D,

when thelatter are in their normal positions,

i do not project into the path o'fthe depressor bar K when the same is movingdownward,

but, when one'ofsaid levers has been moved rearward by the dropping of its pin through a perforation in the controller strip into a groove in the cylinder, Sflldtflll piece d is moved into the path of this depressor bar, wherefore asthe depressoribar comes downv it will engage with and rock this lever. This will cause the tail piece cl of said lever to draw downward theassociated slide Gr,

which,"as before stated, is conneqt'edwith a:

typewriter lever or some other partwhich it is desired to operate; A return bar V ex tends crosswise of the machine and engages with the realends of all of the levers D above their pivots, it being held in such'engagement by springs o. 'The tension on f these springs is increased; when one of the levers is displaced, as stated, but as soon as occupy the same relation'to cylinder A as the levers D do to the. cylinder A. The levers'D have tail pieces (5 d and one, of

it has been moved downward by a depressor bar and has. been released from said bar, this return b'ar'V actuated by its springs i will returnthe-displaced bar to its normal position p There'is'in the machine, as shown; a second rotatable cylinder A. which is a duplicate of Q the cylinder A. Overthis runs a perforated controller strip B". Therdisalso a set of levers DT which are exactly like levers D and these tail pieces 03 extends into a stirrup into which also extends one of the tailpieces d of the levers D; Each slide G may therea to which have previously be'enjdescribed as connectedwith'the levers 70, the pivots between links L and levers 7a and 71:" being large enough to permit the levers to rock as stated When the rock shaft M rocks soa's topu'sh- 79 the links L upward, both sets of levers 70, is

will .be rocked-so asto draw thedepressor bar's K K toward one another, andthereby release Whichever bar D or D had been de-;

pressed during the downward movement of said depressor bars When these levers is, I 72 have been swung toward each other-until they engage the stops-nQ M, then the slides N are pushed upward. When the rock shaft i rocks n the contrary direction, bothlevers go is, k are rocked-in the contrary direction as far as" they are permitted to go, after which the slide N is moved downward; During this downward movement any lever D or D fwhich; has been moved endwiseby theen-f gagernent of'a pin H with a cylinder will be engaged byjthe' bar K, or Kflas the case may be, and rocked-as beforedescribed;

Intact, Fig. 1; of. thedrawing shows'niechanism by which either maybe operated at will. This mechanism, however, ls-old, and- It is, not intended that both cylinders A and A shall be operated at the sametirneis not apart of the present inventiomjand is shown and described; in m [Patent No. 1,O0O,7 l1,-granted Au st l5; 911.. Therev fore, it needs no description here; There is 1 one (listinct advantage inghaving two cylinders," namely, that one of them and its associated perforated controller strip-may cause as to print circular letterswhile the'other cylinder and its associated controller strip may cause and: control theope'ration o'fla and control the operation of atypewriter so typewriter so as to'pri'nt independent ad-" dresses on the severalletters If it is thecylinder A which is in operation the slidesG" will be c will'be 0 crated yrhe, levers e;

Having escribed-my invention, I claim;

1. In mechanism for automatically oper- 'atingi levers and other movable. parts, the

operated-by the levers- D; If the cylinder. "is in operation the-sameslidcs combination of a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, a perfo rated controller strip which runs over said cylinder, a plurality of levers each carrying a pin adapted torest upon said controller strip and. to drop'through holes therein into agroove on said cylinder whereby the lever will be displacedjendwise, and mechanism adapted to engagethe lever which is-so displaced and rock it.

2. Inmechanism for antomaticallyoperab Ting levers and other movahleparts, the com bination of a-rotatable cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, a perforated cohtrollerstrip which runsovensaid cylinder, aplurality of levers each carrying a pin adapted to rest upon said controller a groove on said cylinder whereby the lever will be displaced endwise, mechanism adapted to engagethe lever which is so displaced and rock it, and a slide associated with each lever and adapted to be moved thereby when the lever is rocked.

3. In mechanism for automatically operating levers and other movable parts, the com bination of a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, a perfo rated controller strip which runs over said cylinder, a plurality of levers each carrying a' pin adapted to rest upon said controller strip and to drop through holes therein into a groove on said cylinder, whereby the lever will be displaced endwise, mechanism adapted to. engage the lever which is somoved endwise and rock it, and means for returning the displaced lever to its normal position.

4; In mechanism for automatically operating levers and other movable parts, the comdepressor'bar is fixed, two slides to which bination'ofa rotatable cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, a perforatedcontroller strip which runs over said cylinder, a plurality of levers each carrying a pinadapted to rest upon said controller strip and to dropth'rough holes therein into a roove on said cylinder whereby the lever .wil be displaced, and a reciprocating depressor bar located behind all of said levers and adapted to engage a part of any lever which is dis laced and to rock said lever.

5. In me anism for automatically operating levers and other movable parts, thecombination ofa rotatable cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, fa perforated controller strip which runs over said cylinder, a plurality of levers'each carrying a pin adapted to rest upon said controller strip and to drop through holes therein into a groove on said cylinder whereby the lever will be displaced endwise, a depressor bar which lies behind all of the levers, two bell crank levers,to the lower end of which said sai'd bell crank levers j are pivoted, means limiting the rocking movement of said bell Copies 01 um patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

v v Washington, D. 0.?

which lies behind an of the levers, two bell crank levers, to the lower end of which said depressor bar is fixed, two slides to which said bell crank levers are pivoted, means limiting the rocking movement of said bell cranks about their pivots, a rock shaft having arms, and links connecting said arms with the horizontal arms of said bell crank levers.

7 In mechanismfor automatically operating levers and other movable parts, the combination of a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal. grooves, a perforated controller strip which runs over said cylinder, a plurality of levers lying side by side and projecting over said cylinder, each having in its end a pin which is freely movable vertically and which normally rests upon the surface of said"perforated stri and mechanism for rocking any lever whic is displaced endwise by the cylinder when one of said pins drops through a hole in the perforated strip into a groove in the cylinder.

8. In mechanism for automatically operating levers and other movable parts, the combination of two rotatable cylinders adapted for consecutive rotation and each having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, a paid rated controller strip running over eachicylinder, two sets of levers associated respectively with the two cylinders, each lever having a pin which normally rests upon the associated perforated strip and is adapted to drop through a hole therein into agroove in the associated cylinder, means for rocking any lever in either set which may be displaced, and a plurality of vertically movable slides eachof which is operatively connected with two levers, one in eachset.v

9.- In mechanism for automatically operat-- inglevers and other movable arts, the combination of two rotatablecylmders adapted for consecutive rotation and each having a. plurality of longitudinal grooves, a P911601 rated controller strip running over each cylinder, two sets of levers assoclated respectively with the two cylinders, each lever having a pin which normally rests upon the associated perforated strip and is adaptedto drop through a hole therem into a groove in the associated cylinder, means for rocking any lever in either set whichmay be displaced, and a plurality of vertically movable slides each having a stirrup at its lower end into which a part ofthe lever of each set i projects.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. MOCALL. Witnesses:

C. B. FERGUSON, LOUIS J. Home.

addressing the Commissioner of hatents, 

